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How to make a European skull mount
Pat B:
Very cool! One thing I read about when I did mine was to be sure when you boil the head to keep the antler bases out of the water. It can remove the coloration from the antlers. I think I also used the dish detergent while boiling instead of having another step later.
osage outlaw:
Pat, I have never had a problem with loosing color on the bases while cooking. If you get peroxide on them, they will definately loose color. I made that mistake on my first one. The back side of the bases were submerged a little and it turned them white.
Warning! Peroxide of this strength is very dangerous. It will give you a terrible chemical burn if you get it on you. You should wear latex gloves while using it. I usually don't and end up with a few white spots on my hands. Last year, I turned the tip of my pinky finger white and it was sore for a few days. I didn't even know I got it on me. I just noticed it burning.
Today I put the rack in to soak in the peroxide. I use a square bucket with two notches cut out of the corner to allow the rack to sit in. It works really well. I keep slowly adding the peroxide until it is just below the bases.
To whiten the top of the skull that is not submerged, I mix the peroxide with baby powder to make a jelly.
osage outlaw:
I use a small cheap paint brush to dob the jelly onto the skull. I put a good layer all over it and around the bases. I put it on real thick right at the center cap of the skull because it will very slowly ooze down into the liquid.
This is about an hour later. It is already starting to turn it white. The dark lines on top of the skull are gone. There is a layer of white bubbles on the surface.
I will let it soak over night. First thing in the morning, I will take it out and rinse it off. Once it dries, I will seal it and it will be done. I will also show how I attach them to a plaque.
osage outlaw:
What you see in the bucket. I think it was about a gallon. It depends on how big of a container you soak it in.
osage outlaw:
I took it out this morning and hosed it off really well. I let it soak for a few minutes in a clean bucket of water to get all of the peroxide out of the inside. I will let it dry overnight and seal it tomorrow. It is basically done, and has taken less than a week to do.
Bottom jaws.
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